Uzunyayla
Encyclopedia
Origin of the Uzunyayla breed dates to 1854 in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

. Ancestors of the breed came from the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...

, and it is believed that they were of the Kabarda (horse) breed. They were bred pure in Turkey until 1930, when Anadolu pony
Anadolu pony
The Anadolu Pony is a Turkish breed of horse developed over 1,000 years ago. They are known for their speed, endurance and hardiness.- Characteristics :...

 and Nonius (horse)
Nonius (horse)
The Nonius, or Nóniusz, is a horse breed named after its Anglo-Norman foundation sire. The breed was developed at the Imperial Stud at Mezőhegyes, Hungary by careful linebreeding. Originally bred to serve as a light draft and utility horse for Hungary's military, the breed became a useful...

 blood was introduced.

The Uzunyayla has a large head with a concave profile; the eyes are small; the neck is of medium length; the withers
Withers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...

 are well pronounced; the legs are strong with good joints; the pasterns are sloped and very strong; the feet are well shaped and of tough horn. The Uzunyayla is usually bay in colour. Feathering on the legs is coarse, and the tail grows very long. They stand between 14.1 and 15.1 hands high.

This breed is very good for riding long distances. Uzunyayla horses have a good gallop but cannot do the rahvan walk like some other Turkish breeds. The normal walking speed is not fast as is seen in the Anadolu breed. They are used as a pack horse, a light draft horse
Draft horse
A draft horse , draught horse or dray horse , less often called a work horse or heavy horse, is a large horse bred for hard, heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labour...

 and as a general riding horse
Riding Horse
The Riding Horse is a type of show horse in the UK. Riding horses can be any breed, but are generally warmbloods or Thoroughbred crosses.The breeding and showing of riding horses is overseen by the British Show Horse Association.-Showing the riding horse:...

.

There is no association or stud book for the Uzunyayla breed, but breeders hope that one will be formed in the near future. Presently there are only about 2,000 specimens of this breed.
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